Ameriwood Mainstay Walmart Dresser Sold from 2009 to 2016 Now Subject of Tip Over Recall

If you bought a Walmart dresser between April 2009 and May 2016, the furniture could be under recall.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has recalled nearly 1.6 million Ameriwood Mainstay four-door dressers that Walmart sold for around $60 each. The Walmart dresser was available in six different finishes, including alder, black forest, white, weathered oak, walnut and ruby red.

The CPSC said the way the dressers are designed, they pose “serious tip-over and entrapment hazards that can result in death or injuries to children” if the dressers are not anchored to a wall. The CPSC also said the Walmart dresser does not meet the U.S. voluntary standard for performance requirements.

Walmart dresser model numbers that are included in the recall are 5412012WP, 5412301WP, 5412328WP, 5412015WY, 5412301WY, 5412012PCOM, 5412015PCOM, 5412026PCOM, 5412213PCOM, 5412214PCOM, 5412301PCOM, 5412317PCOM, and 5412328PCOM. The model number might not be visible on the dresser itself, but it can be found in the instruction manual.

Walmart Dresser Poses Tip-over Hazard

The Ameriwood Mainstay dresser is among several that have been reported to be tip-over hazards. The CPSC recommends that items such as the Walmart dresser not be used until it is properly anchored to a wall. Ameriwood offers a free anchoring repair kit to make the dresser safe to use.

Even though dressers are not made to climb upon, young children can use open drawers as ladder steps if they wish to reach something that’s on top of the dresser. Their ingenuity can lead to serious accidents or even death when a dresser topples over upon the child.

The CPSC points out that every two weeks, a child dies when a television, piece of furniture or an appliance falls on them. Sixty percent of the victims are crushed to death. The CPSC also says that every hour in the United States, three children are injured when an unanchored hazard falls upon them.

Not only should the dresser be anchored to the wall, but also heavy items should not be placed on a dresser. The CPSC says a falling television can hit a child with a force up to 10 times more powerful than the impact by an NFL lineman.

While it may be more convenient to set a TV on top of a dresser, the risks aren’t worth it, says the CPSC. Even the newer flat-screen televisions should be anchored to a wall rather than sit on top of furniture, advises the CPSC.

Decades ago, dressers were made of solid wood, which intrinsically weighed enough at the bottom to keep its balance. As manufacturers have turned to more laminates and pressed board-type materials, dressers have become much more light weight. A lightweight dresser is more easily tipped when a toddler adds his or her weight to a dresser drawer.

If you currently have a Walmart dresser that is subject to this recall in your home, you could qualify to participate in this class action lawsuit investigation.

Join a Free Dresser Tip Over Recall Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you own a chest of drawers that was recalled because of a dresser tip over hazard, you may be entitled to compensation.

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